Our use of cookies

Options

Back

We use cookies to help our site work, to understand how it is used, and to tailor the adverts presented on our site. By clicking “Accept” below, you agree to us doing so. You can read more in our
cookie notice. Or, if you do not agree, you can click Manage below to access other choices.

You can choose whether or not to accept advertising cookies from our advertising partner Google using the buttons below. If you choose not to, you will still see adverts on our site, because they help us to fund it, but those adverts will not be tailored to you. You can also choose not to accept session and analytics cookies through the settings in your browser, but some parts of our site might stop working as a result. You can also learn more in our
cookie notice.

Devon man, 67, died after choking on lunch at nursing home

He had suffered a previous 'choking episode' earlier this year, an inquest heard

Share

by Lauren Harris

17:09, 11 Oct 2017Updated13:43, 12 Oct 2017

Enter your postcode to see news and information near you

Community updates, Crime Statistics, Local News & Events and much more...

Blackdown Nursing Home(Image: Blackdown Nursing Home)

A 67-year-old man died after choking on his lunch at a Devon nursing home, an inquest heard.

Walter Hendrik Brown was born in London but spent many years living in Tavistock before his death. He was found dead at Blackdown Nursing Home, Mary Tavy, on June 17, 2017. An inquest into how he died took place at South Molton Town Hall on Wednesday, October 11.

Dr Jason Davies conducted the post-mortem as instructed by the coroner and gave a cause of death of choking, contributed to by coronary artery atheroma. He also observed 80 per cent occlusion of Mr Brown’s lower right artery which would have restricted his blood flow and affected his oxygen circulation further.

Read More

His general practitioner’s report stated Mr Brown had “a number of medical problems” which included subcortical dementia, schizophrenia, autism and learning difficulties. He had suffered a previous “choking episode” in March 2017.

On June 17, 2017, just after lunchtime, staff at Blackdown Nursing Home found Mr Brown slumped in his chair and called for assistance.

Trevor Pepper, clinical lead nurse, who knew Mr Brown well, was the first to his side. He said: “I felt he was past the point of being helped with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Another staff member who was verification trained did the necessary checks and we both checked for debris in his mouth to see if he had choked, but couldn’t see anything.”

Mr Pepper then contacted the emergency services and informed Mr Brown’s next of kin.

Coroner John Tomalin summarised the evidence and gave his conclusion. He said: “I accept Dr Davies’ conclusion that Mr Brown died from choking. The obstruction was in his upper airway, near the trachea, but too far down to be seen without a scope, and the autopsy showed a collection of food in that area. Therefore the appropriate conclusion to give is of an accidental death.”

After the verdict, Mr Brown's brother Gerry thanked the court for everyone concerned with Mr Brown's care and stated that he was completely satisfied with all the steps taken to ensure his brother's wellbeing and that in his view there was nothing practical that could have been done to prevent his death.